What you need to know to travel to Angola during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and travel restrictions without notice. Angolan borders are closed until midnight of 8 July 2021 and entry and exit from the Angolan territory are as per the directive of the Angolan government. Entry into Angolan territory while the borders are closed is authorised only for:
- Return of Angolan nationals
- Return of foreign nationals to their home countries
- Foreign holders of the Angolan residence permit and work visas (which include the short term visa)
- Essential reasons such as professionals working for the public and private sector in Angola and passengers on repatriation or humanitarian flights organised in accordance with the law.
Passengers (including Angolan nationals or foreign holders of Angolan residence permits, work visa, or short term visa) entering or transiting through Angola are required to present proof of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test or will be denied boarding. The SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR) test must be performed within 72 hours of the time of departure at the first point of embarkation. Children under 24 months of age are exempt from the SARS-CoV-2 (RT PCR) test. The mandatory SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR) test can only be accepted if issued in Portuguese and the essential element that must be stated is the time and date at which the test was carried out. The acceptable format is paper. NHS and trace testsperformed in the United Kingdom are not valid for traveling.
All passengers are required to undertake an antigen test (TRAg) on arrival and must quarantine for 10 days at their residence of facility determined by the Angolan authorities, and present registration online. Violation of the quarantine may result in fines of up to 150,000.00AKZ (roughly 150GBP) in addition to immediate change to institutional quarantine.
It is important to contact your healthcare practitioner in the United Kingdom 6-8 weeks before your trip about other important health issues prevailing in Angola as precautionary immunisation is available and advised against diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, tetanus, rabies, typhoid, and the yellow fever. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are mandatory for all travellers aged 9 months and older.
Considering all the above before making travel plans you should check the following for a safe trip to Angola if you are a British or Angolan citizen in the United Kingdom:
- https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/angola
- Check the UK website for self-isolation (quarantine) rules after returning to the UK